Newly diagnosed with celiac disease, Conrad Manfred and his 7-year-old daughter quickly realized there was nowhere they could safely eat out.
“We would just go home. I’m not kidding. There’s nowhere we could have really ate at, so we just ate at home,” he said.
Five years later, Manfred has just opened Kindler’s, a completely gluten-free fast-food restaurant in Spokane Valley. Located at 14816 E Sprague Ave, Kindler’s ensures families like Manfred can safely eat out.
Most restaurants with gluten-free options are “risky” for those with celiac disease. A pizzeria may offer gluten-free crusts, but it is all too easy for flour with gluten to accidentally hitch a ride on that pizza. Those with gluten intolerance may risk the cross-contamination, but those with celiac face larger consequences.
Ingestion of gluten for someone with the disease causes damage to the small intestine. Over time, it destroys the organ’s lining and prevents the body from absorbing nutrients from food.
“Before I was diagnosed, I constantly got sick. It was rough. I’d been to the ER many times over many years,” said Manfred, Kindler’s owner .
The chain’s first location opened only weeks ago in Spokane Valley. Kindler’s CEO Ken Batali said the quick-service restaurant has been busy – with their drive-through often backed up into the parking lot. The reaction has been especially heartwarming from those with celiac and their loved ones.
“One woman was practically in tears because it had been years since she had been able to eat out with her husband,” he said.
The food also tastes good, Batali added.
“The food’s made from scratch. It is clean. It is fresh. It’s not greasy. We want a premium fast-food experience where mom and dad can drive through and get your kids a fast dinner you don’t feel guilty feeding them,” he said.
Each of the more than a dozen meals offered at Kindler’s has at least one leafy green or vegetable. So far, the top sellers include a teriyaki chicken bowl, steak and potatoes, and a Korean-BBQ-style slow cooked beef dish.
The cost of eating at Kindler’s is largely similar to rival fast-food chains. Their cheapest meal is approximately $13 and the most expensive tops out at around $17.
More Kindler’s may soon be popping up around Spokane. Locations on the South Hill and in Millwood are set to open next summer. More locations outside of the Spokane area are planned for 2028.
No location of Kindler’s will be franchised. By owning all locations, the chain can ensure gluten is never introduced by a franchisee, Batali said.